Monthly Archives: August 2017

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NEXT MEETING: September 8, 2017Note: no meeting on Friday, September 1

Book Labeling Project

We’ll all pitch in on a hands-on project during our regular meeting time. We will attach Rotary stickers inside each of the 200+ books that were purchased for Richmond schools during President Josh’s term. There will be no speaker for this meeting.

MEETING OF August 25, 2017

Welcome

Past Pres Alan Baer filled in for Pres Connie. Felix Hunzinker lead the pledge, and Herb Cole made the invocation. Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day was “A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always rely on the support of Paul.”

Announcements

Jerry Feagley announced that The Sip and Savor event a the Mira Vista Country Club It is sponsored by the El Cerrito Rotary Club and will be held on October 1st, 2:30 – 5:30pm.

Oscar Garcia announced that The Iron Triangle Residents Association will hold their Annual Community Picnic and Health Fair from on September 23, 10am-3pm. Live music from Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic from 11am-1pm.

David Brown said that the funding for Peres School teachers was nearly complete and before he finished talking several Rotarians stepped up and all teachers were funded. Phyllis Brown, God Rest her soul, left 10,000 in her trust to give a 1,000 a year to Peres School only after Richmond Rotary funds the teachers Project. The first 1,000 will now be on its way.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

The speaker today is Meg Heinicke. Meg works with NamasteDirect an organization that provides MicroLending for women in Guatemala. Two people working here in the US, and a team of people work in Guatemala.

Women are vetted before they receive grants. The women who qualify must take a 9-month cycle of classes after they receive the $300 loan. Most people making it through 2 or 3 cycles, but those who make it through the fourth cycle usually have a strong business established.

One woman who completed the four cycles has a thriving store and hair salon, which earns about $3,000 a month. In comparison the minimum wage in Guatemala is about $1.10 an hour or about $968 a month. See www.namastedirect.org for more information.